Experts now tell us that “gentle exercise” doesn’t cut it. You need a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days a week, or 20 minutes of vigorous exercise, like jogging, three days a week. You need to break a sweat. Bad news for all you golfers and bowlers who thought you were getting your dose of required exercise. That gentle evening stroll isn’t sufficient. Same thing goes for our spiritual lives.

There is an important analogy here for our spiritual lives. Those that know me know I’m fanatical about monogerism. Our justification (right standing before God) is the sole work of God. After that though … much of it is up to us. Some Christians live defeated lives wondering why God isn’t doing more for them.

Listen to Paul’s words to the Philippian church. “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” (Phil 2:12-13) (emphasis added)

“Working out” our salvation in this passage doesn’t refer to our justification; it refers to our sanctification (becoming more Christ-like) - a part of the salvation process - which is an act of synergism … the work of both God and man. In other words, after our justification, how Christ-like we become is not solely the work of God … in large part, it’s also up to us. And “gentle spiritual exercise” on our part doesn’t always cut it.

The orthopedic surgeon who operated on my shoulder 7 weeks ago, released me yesterday. My shoulder is going great, although I’ve still got a few months of therapy left. The surgeon did his part with the skilled surgery. God did His part with the shoulder healing itself over time. But I also had to do my part - a lot of physical therapy, in order for the reconstructed shoulder to function strongly and properly. And this wasn’t always “gentle” exercise for the shoulder. Most of it was hard work. Some of it was downright painful. A lot of people who undergo successful shoulder surgery end up with “bum” shoulders for the rest of their lives and complain that “God didn’t heal them.” But the problem wasn’t God. They just didn’t do their part teaching their reconstructed & healed shoulder to regain function.

Similarly, a lot of Christians end up with “bum” spiritual lives and ultimately blame God. But the problem isn’t God. It’s us in this case. We are not expending vigorous effort to condition/teach the new creation God has birthed in us (2 Cor 5:17). We sometimes need more than gentle spiritual exercise; we need moderate and even vigorous spiritual exercise. Some of it will be hard. Some will be painful. But the rewards are literally out-of-this-world.

My open-heart surgery is this Tuesday. No matter what happens, God is in control and will be glorified. I have faith in both the surgeon and God. But I also have a crucial part to play after the surgery if successful. And I’m going to be working hard. Real hard. How hard? My goal is to dance a 5-minute Quickstep (almost unheard of even for a young man to do!) in the Showcase next year with three successive partners, each for 1.5 minutes. As the dance progresses, the tempo will get faster and faster with each partner. The last partner will be my wife and we will be flying. At the end, I will be soaked in sweat. And God will be glorified in what a 55 year old man with a reconstructed shoulder and repaired heart valve can do.

“Work out” your salvation. Expend some spiritual sweat in God’s word and with Him in prayer. Serve him and others, working hard to the utmost of your ability. You’ll be amazed at what happens.

Lord, may all of us also be able to say at the end of our lives that we “fought the good fight.” (2 Tim 4:7)

Bob
Fides Quaerens Intellectum
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Bob Pratico
Fides Quaerens Intellectum
(my Sojourn blog)